From Dream to Deliverance
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating us to be relational beings—beings that interact first with You and then with those around us! Thank You for creating us in Your image so that we may love, serve, forgive and challenge one another in the same ways that You first loved us. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit right now that I may have the boldness necessary to witness to Your great salvation in my thoughts, words and deeds. Open doors today that I may have the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with a friend, a relative, a neighbor—even a stranger. Glorify Yourself in my life today, O Lord, and make me the salt and light that Jesus challenges me to be. These things I pray in the strong name of Jesus. May His name be praised forever! Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Acts 6:1-7
1But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.
“We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program,” they said. 3“Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. 4Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word.”
5This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian). 6These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
7God’s message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Reflecting on God’s Word
If you needed someone to help you with a service-related ministry who would you choose?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What was the response of the group to the apostles’ recommendation?
What added information are we told about specific men in the group?
What do you notice about the names of the people in the group as far as “ethnicity” goes?
Understanding God’s Word
Why do you suppose that at least one of the new leaders (and the names themselves suggest it was more!) was a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian?
How do you suppose that the seven men were selected by the group?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What do you find in today’s reading that you need to apply in your life right now?
Thoughts...The Idea Pleased the Whole Group...
I’ve served as a pastor for more than twenty years now, and one thing that impresses me about this week’s Scripture is that when the apostles suggested that the folks select seven men to take over the food distribution ministry, we are told, “This idea pleased the WHOLE group…” (emphasis added) It isn’t often in the church that an idea pleases the WHOLE group. We all come to our life together as the family of God, and the body of Jesus Christ with our own understandings and ideas of what is best in a particular situation. When a challenge arises or a new direction is chosen that we may carry out our worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry or mission more effectively, we often find it difficult to find an idea that pleases the WHOLE group. In fact, American Christians tend to be more fickle in this regard than any on the planet. We’re used to getting our way, having choices, being able to determine our own destinies (to a point), so we find it hard to hear about a new ministry (or the “funeral” of an old one) and still be pleased as a whole group. We learn much from this process as Jesus’ followers today. First, the Apostle PRAYED first. They presented the idea to the group for input. They gave the decision to those closest to the situation, and the blessed the decision. The results, which we’ll look at in a couple days were amazing. – More tomorrow!